Colorful Run

On Saturday morning, I did a 7-mile run. It was a tough, but memorable one! There were four runners in our group - since the training is separating the full and half-marathoners. Our pacer was Anita, and it was me, Kate and Sylvia. We chatted a lot along the way. The route began at Sharon Meadows (Golden Gate Park), then to the famous Haight Ashbury neighborhood and looping back around up 3 major hills to GGP towards Stow Lake and back to Sharon Meadows! The hills were intimidating so I pushed myself really hard. What I do is I usually don't look ahead of me. I run looking down on the ground or the runner ahead of me. The thought of how much more I have to go slows me down psychologically. I was breathing heavily and drank a lot of water when we reached the top. My legs were aching the next day!

Since it was an early morning run at 8:00am, the Haight Ashbury was unusually quiet and calm. The HA is a world-famous neighborhood of San Francisco, known for its historical 1960's counter-culture movement associated with young people, artists, music, hippies, drugs,'summer of love' and anti-war and pro-peace messages. The culture is still alive with a distinctive bohemian style and sensibility.

According to Wikipedia, "...the '60s era and modern American counterculture have been synonymous with San Francisco and the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood ever since. The main commercial area's blend of diverse street life engulfs all types in the carnivalesque and liberal surroundings, just as it had in the 1960s. Recent police and community efforts help maintain park curfews and "no-camping policies", and steps are being taken to curb the constant influx of youths living on the streets. Both commercial and residential property in the area are in high demand today, a testament to the long history and many attractions of the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood and the city of San Francisco."

My recollection of the Haight Ashbury was going there for the Ben & Jerry's Free Cone Day every April with my former colleague Larry Z always reminded me. Packed with people amid fine Spring weather, I loved going there! And, my sisters and I used to shop in the area for our formal dresses for Senior and Junior Prom when we were teenagers. We loved the really unique style and hip stuff unlike the style and fashion found in the conventional mall. In fact, 'though Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream is now located at the famous Haight-Ashbury intersection, the neighborhood remains a thriving center of independent local businesses. It is home to a number of independent restaurants and bars, as well as clothing boutiques, booksellers, head shops and record stores including the well-known Amoeba Music. The cohabitation between throw-backs to the Fifties lounge scene, the organic and spiritual New Age ambiance via the Sixties, and the punk-rock scene of the Seventies and beyond is one of the neighborhood's most interesting and endearing aspects.'

Haight-Ashbury Street Fair is held on the second Sunday of June each year, during which Haight Street is closed down between Stanyan and Masonic, with one sound stage at each end. This is a rather crowded event due to heavy tourism. Since I miss this event every year, I will make it there this year.

So, a Saturday run in the city streets of the Haight Ashbury and a loop around GGP was a fantastic route that I probably would not have done on my own. We as a team were overjoyed at the finish line! It was a great start to the Easter Holiday Weekend! Was I tired and sore afterwards? Yes, and still am as I'm writing this blog. Do I want to run still? Yes. Would I run the route again (esp. the 3 hills)? Why not? I would still NOT look up the hills, but I would keep my eyes open and enjoy such a colorful, distinctive and vibrant district of San Francisco. The running truly allows me to run down memory lane and re-visit and visit the flavors of San Francisco. It's been a wonderful adventure for me.

Thanks for reading!